Georgia FORESTRY USPS No. 217120 Spring, 1993 No. 1 Vol. 46 STAFF Howard E. Bennett, Editor William S. Edwards, Assoc. Editor Jackie N. Cundiff, Graphic Artist Bob Lazenby, Technical Advisor Zell Miller, Governor John W. Mixon, Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jim L. Gillis, Jr. , Chairman, Soperton Felton Denney, Carrollton James Fendig, Savannah Dr. Gloria Shatto, Rome Robert Simpson , Ill, lakeland DISTRICT OFFICES District One 3086 M artha Berry Hwy.. E/Rome, GA 30165 District Two 3005 Atlan ta Hwy./Gainesvi lle, GA 30507 District Three 1055 E. Whitehall Rd./Athens. GA 30605 District Four 187 Corinth Rd./Newnan, GA 30263 District Five 119 Hwy. 49/Milledgeville. GA 31061 Distict Six 1465 Tignall Rd./Washington, GA 30673 District Seven 243 U.S. Hwy. 19 N/Americus. GA 31709 District Eight Route 3, Box 17/Tifton . GA 31794 District Nine P. 0. Box 345/Camilla. GA 31730 District Ten Route 2, Box 28/Statesboro, GA 30458 District Eleven Route 1, Box 67/Helena. GA 31037 District Twelve 5003 j acksonville Hwy./Waycross. GA 31503 Urban Project 6835 M emorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forest;y Commission, Route 1, Box 181, Dry Branch, GA 31020. Second class postage paid at Macon, GA POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Georgia Forestry Commission, Route 1, Box 181, Dry Branch, GA 31020. 2/Ceorgia Fo restry/Spring 1993 This yo ung visito r at a Land Use and Fores t M anagem ent Field Da y showed keen interest in a helicop ter water drop performed by th e Forestry Commission while many adults showed an amused interest in him. ON THE COVER- Nature's bri ghtest sprin g colors are now on display, but no co lor is more pl easing to many Georgia landowners than that of "forest green. " Billy Godfrey, th e Co mmission 's photograph er, fo cused on this well-man aged plot of greenery in the lush pine belt of South Georgia. EORGIA'S FORESTS MONG ATION'S EALTHIEST ~ ~1 I /g r r ' I' uring the past 30 years, 24 ~orna.does, a half dozen serIOUS 1ce and hail storms and the southern pine beetle have destroyed 505 million board feet of sawtimber and 432 million cords of pulpwood in Georgia, but despite these losses the state's forests rate among the nation's best in overall health. The encouraging diagnosis came from.natural resources specialists who mon1tor 148 permanent forest health plots i~st~lled by the Georgia Forestry C?mm1ss1on in 1991 in cooperation With the U.S. Forest Service. The public's concern over the health of the forests began several years ago ~hen a decline in forests was noticed In Europe and in various parts of the Eastern United States. In Georgia and other southeastern states, damage to conifers became evident during the 1987 timber inventory conducted by the U. S. Forest Service. Analyses of annual growth rings of slash and loblolly pines showed growth reductions since the 1960's, but the extent of forest decline was much less than in Europe. In order to evaluate the trends in forest health in this country, a permanent network of forest health plotswas installed, first in six New England states in 1990 and expanded to Georgia and other states in 1991 . The concern for the health and productivity of forests in the United States resulted in federal legislation (The Forest Ecosystems and Atmospheri c Pollution Research Act of 1988) authorizing federal and state fore stry organizations to monitor long term trends in the health of the nation 's forests. The legislation authorizes a 10year program of research and monitoring to better understand the relationships between forest health and air pollutants and reco gnizes the need for long-term monitoring. Subsequent legislation, (Farm Bill of 1990), encouraged the Forest Service to work in partnership with state agencies to monitor forest health. CLOSELY MONITORED Georgia's health plots have been visited four times by experts in entomology, pathology, botany, agronomy, wildlife biology and plant physiology to determine the overall health and diversity of the plants, soil, water and wildfire. Collectively, the health of the plots will give experts some idea about the overall health of each state's forests and will generate a national conditions report for federal and state environmental planners. After the first two years of monitoring, Georgia's forests received the high rating, although disasters, insects and natural disasters continue to account for some losses. Along with forest health monitoring, the Commission is responsible for the survey, detection and assessment of timber damage from all natural causes. Currently, a beetle outbreak involves 80 Georgia counties with the likelihood of continuin g well into this year and possibly in 1994. Beetle outbreaks appear to be cyclic and predictions made to warn landowners of impending danger are based on historical information compiled by the Commission and can only approximate the timing and severity of such occurrences . THE GOOD NEWS The good news, according to Commission officials, is that even though the disasters killed enough trees that if the wood was cut into four foot lengths and stacked four feet high in a rick that would cover a distance of 9,848 miles, it would represent less than two percent of the total merchantable volume of live trees and growing stock for any given year between 1972 and 1992! More than 4.1 million acres have been planted to trees during the past ten years in Georgia and the Commission expects landowners will continue to give high priority to reforestation. Georgia Forestry/ Spring 1993/3 BEVERAGE BOTTLES TESTED ~~~~~~~~~~~-~ IN NAVAL STORES HARVEST ~~~~~~~~~~~B~y~H~o~w~ar~d~B~e~nn~e~tt~~~:c:o:n:ce:p:t~w~a:r:an:t:ed rome in~ns~e ill something as commonplace as a used plastic Coke bottle revolutionize the century-old way Georgia turpentine farmers harvest their crop? Are those sculptured tree trunks with attached cups that have been so familiar to generations of South Georgians - and so novel to tourists passing through - destined to become obsolete? Researchers are cautiously optimistic that the two-liter soft drink containers affixed to the base of slash pines will replace the longstanding cup-and-gutter system of extracting oleoresin from living trees in the gumproducing belt of South Georgia and adjacent states. The neck of the recycled bottles, purchased at about three cents each, are fitted tightly into holes drilled from four to seven inches into the base of the tree and sprayed with chemicals to induce gravity flow of gum into th e containers. FORESTER CITED The idea, which naturally drew some skepticism when first introduced, is attributed to District Forester Grady Williams of the Forestry Commission's McRae office. The forester, who also is a naval stores specialist, is cited by Alan W. Hodges, economic analyst of the University of Florida, as "the inspiration and creative 4/Ceorgia Forestry/Spring 1993 genius of the entire project." Hodges, who heads the research program labeled , "A Sealed Collection System for Production of High Purity Pine Oleoresin," gave an encouraging progress report at the recent annual meeting of the American Turp entin e Farmers Association . "Actually, the concept for the plastic bottle technique came from a landowner in Clinch County, "said Williams. " Our ranger in that county told us how the farmer had caught pine gum in a bottle attached to a tree and that's when we did some preliminary investigation and decided the research." Chief Ranger Foster Smith said he was on the country place of Clifford Bennett near Homerville one day an d "just accidentally came across th is milk bottle plugged into a hole at th e base of a big pine tree. The bottle was filled with some really pretty gum ." Th e ranger said Bennett is quite innovative around his farm and "didn't have anything in particular in mind...he just attached the bottle to the hole he had made and left it." Research on the alternative collection system began in 1990 under a contract with the University of Florida. It is administered by the tu rpentine farmers organizati on in cooperation with the Forestry Commission. Tools were readi ly developed to carry out the experimentation; a gasoli ne-power dril l was fashioned to bore holes in th e trees and an applicator was developed for chemical treatment inside the holes. Various depths and angles were drilled to determine the most advantageous method of extracting gum from several hundred pines in experimental plots in Georgia and Florida. If eventually proven feasib le by studies that continue in the two states, the breakthrou gh would brin g about several money and time saving advantages over the traditional meth od of Researchers hope a new method can be perfected to eventually replace the familiar cup-a nd-gutter system shown at left. collectin g gum. Industry spokesmen ~loiimnitnaotuetthtehahtaridt wwaoreultdh,atonfowcomuruses,t be attached to the tree, greatly reduce labor costs, lessen the attraction of insect to the tree, and produce a much cleaner, purer product. Mill owners would welcome the change as it woul? eliminate m~tal applian ces and nails that somet1me becom e embedded in the tree when it is worked out for gum and sold as a sawlog. Metal objects in wood play havoc on expensive saws in today's computerized lumber mills. . . Keepin g the gum clean as 1t IS collected in the open cups always has been a problem in the industry, but the tran fer of the product directly from the tree into the plastic bottle prevents contamination and the evaporation of some of its properties such as turp en- tine and pine oils. EXPERI MENT STAGE Intense labor is involved in preparing and maintaining the many "faces" in a forest tract before harvesting can begin and when gum collecting does get underway, it requires 18 visits to the individual tree during a season . William s said the bottle system requires " only two visits each season." The specialist said, however, that "I want to emphasize we're still very much in the experiment stage and the present cup-and-gutter system produces more gum than our bottles." From two to five bottles can be attached to a single tree and so me large pines have actually produ ce d up to 15 pounds, but Williams said the average yield per bottle remains at about two pounds. " If we can get the yield up to three pounds, he said, "it will be gin to be profitable." After the initial holes are worked out, new ones are drilled about three inches adjacent to the abandoned holes for the insertion of new bottles. It was first feared that th e abandoned holes would create insect and disease problems, but research has shown that new bark grows quickly over the holes and no serious damage has been detected. HOLES KEPT LOW Williams said "the holes for the bottles ar~ purposely kept low on the tree to avo1d defects in the tree when it is even_t~ally sold as a sawlog." t W1l~1~ms and Hodges, as well as field echmoans working on the project, have encountered one disappoint- ment in their work: the bottle system doesn'twork with lon gleaf pine. ,;Slash is receptive," said William s, "but we find longleaf results are unfavorable at thi s point in the research." Althou gh th e nava l stores industry -a term derived from co lonial tim es when tar was processed from gum for use in caulking th e seams of ships and preserving ropes - reached its peak in Georgia in 1908, it remains an important component of Georgia forestry. Competition from several foreign co untries - many using cheap labor has helped diminish the industry in Georgia, but the state continues to hold th e edge on the global market in the sale of high quality rosin. Commission Director John Mixon told members at the ATFA meetin g that he visited Japan with other state officials on a mission to promote th e sale of Georgia forest produ cts to th e island nation. "They didn't want to hear about timber, " Mixon said, "All they wanted to discuss was the superior grade of rosin we produ ce and their intention to continue to buy it. " In the industry's heyday, ge nerally before a marked decline started in 1938, there were hundreds of small on-site turpentine "fire stills" scattered throughout the forests of South Georgia. Today, only one large centralized distillation plant remains ; Akzo Coatings of Baxley provides the services that many farmers and other independents used to do in a far less sophisticated and efficient manner. MOMENTOUS TRANSITION In essence, the transition from the cup-and-gutter system to a successful bottle method of gum collection could be as far reaching as that accomplished by the renowned Dr. Charles Herty at the turn of the Crady Williams, district forester and naval stores specialist who initiated the new gum collection study, checks the content of one of the thousands of plastic bottles now being used in the research program. Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993/5 Before the turn of the century, destructive box-like cavities were cut deep into the trunks of Georgia pines to extract gum. Th e practice seriously weakened the tree and made it susceptible to insects and diseases. century. Dr. Herty, a native Georgian, was travelin g and attending lectures in Europe in 1899 wh en he was engaged in a conversation on e day with a Professor Otto Witt of a university near Berlin. Wh en th e talk turn ed to naval stores, th e pro fessor all egedly to ld th e Am eri can that th e United States " has no naval stores industry" ...th at what passed for on e w as really a " butchery." Artist Ken Brauner worked fro m o ld photographs to crea te the painting belo w which depicts gum gathering in South Georgia in the 1920's. Th e German educator's curt remark referred to th e meth od by w hich gum w as th en gath ered in Georgia and other states. It invo lved wo rkers cuttin g a dee p boxlike cavity into th e trunk of th e li ving tree to cat ch gum as it flowed from a scarifi ed face, a practi ce th at prevailed since early co lo nial tim es. After returnin g ho me, Herty set about tryin g to replace th e severe treedamaging " boxin g" w ith a less radi cal system o f extractin g th e valuabl e gum . Several oth ers tri ed to co me up w ith a workabl e alternative, but Herty's extensive research in th e pin e woo ds of Bulloch County and elsewhere resulted in th e cup-and-gutter device th at was ultimately accepted througho ut th e industry. It was an improvement ove r a system used at th e tim e in France . Herty's system includ ed a cl ay cup th at rese mbl ed a flower pot, a gum receptabl e that was later changed to an iro n cup or box. Th e pl asti c cup was used a few years ago but now aluminum cups are used extensive ly. REVOLUTION NOTED A bro nze tabl e was erected on th e campu s o f Georgia So uth ern Teachers College (n ow Georgia So uthern Unive rsity) at Statesboro in 1935 w ith th e inscripti o n " On thi s tree o n July 20, 1901 , th e first cup and gutter for co llectin g gum turpentine was p laced by Dr. Chas H. Herty and hi s ass istant, Frank Klarpp. Here began a revolution in th e naval stores industry. " Wh en th e system was pl ace d on th e tree, it was in th e mid st o f an experimental forest that later became a part o f th e co llege ca mpu s. On e histori an o bserved that "several turp entin e hands stood by lau ghing" w hen th e scientist hun g that first cup. Alth ough th ere pro bably are skep- ti cs to day, no ne see m to be lau ghin g openly at th e expe rim ental use of a pl asti c po p bottl e th at represents a departure from a gum gath eri ng procedure th at has remained .basica lly un changed fo r more th an 90 years. If all goes we ll and research ultimately proves that th e new meth o d is feasib le, perhaps a new histori cal marker w ill one day procl aim that a pl asti c co ntainer spawne d yet anoth er revolution in th e naval stores industry! Dr. Herty p erfected a cup-and-gutter system shortly after the turn of the centu.'Y and producers bega n to phase out th e boxed method of ga th ering gum. 6/Georgia Forestry/Spring 7993 TURPENTINE FARMER PROUDLY DISPLAYS INDUSTRY'S CALENDARS ON STORE WALLS ).).McArthur of Alston said he has "been in the turpentine business for 55 years and a member of the American Turpentine Farmers Association ince it started ." That's why you'll find the ATFA's big wall calendars, dating back to 1956, lining the walls of his old store in the little Montgomery County town. A full color photograph of Miss Gum Spirits of Turpentine, chosen each year from entries representing the state's gum producing counties, i featured on the popu lar calendars. McArthur's wife, Evelyn, postmaster of the town's little post office in a front corner of the store, said there are a few calendars missing, but almost all have found their way to the store walls during the past 44 year. The postmaster, w ho has been sorting mail and selling stamps to Alston's residents for 35 years, said strangers stopping by are quick to "smoke over" the many photographs of pretty calendar girls. Actually, the old store, once a busy place selling general merchandise, no longer sells anything except cold drinks. Shelves and ornate showcases are empty and t he calendars dominate space once devoted to groceries, hardware and feed. The McArthurs often talk of retiring, but both said it would have to be done reluctantly. The veteran turpentine producer said he is presently "doing a crop" and continues to enjoy his work, while his wife admits she is "not much of a housekeeper" after having served as postmaster for more than th ree decades and as a school teacher for 14 years before that, and would miss her dai ly contact with many of the townspeople who stop by the post office. As long as the couple is around, however, a new calendar will go up on the store walls each january, adding another pretty girl to the gallery of beauties who have served as Miss Gum Spirits of Turpentine. ASSOCIATION CONTINUES CALENDAR TRADITION Big wall calendars featuring full color photographs of mountain land- scapes, pretty girls or sleek automo- biles used to be easy to come by at the beginning of a new year. Now they are scarce. Few insurance companies, auto manufacturers and other enter- prises bother to produce and dis- tribute the big free calendars that once graced the walls of bar- ber shops, repair garages, and offices. M ary Newton 194 1 The American Turpentine Farmers Association, however, is an exception. The organization has been handing out its calendar every year since 1941 , with a suspension only during some of the World War II years. It has been an effective way to help promote an important Georgia industry. The photos of young ladies featured on the association's cal- endars each year lucille Patterson is the Miss Gum 1963 Spirits of Turpen- tine chosen from entries across Georgia's naval stores belt. In the early years of the competition, girls were chosen from Georgia and neighboring states, but since 1965, all girls have been from South Georgia. The first chosen was Mary Newton of Cogdell in 1941 and the current calendar girl is Sophie Hiers of Valdosta. Miss Gum Spirits of Tur- pentine is con- sidered a valu- able asset in t he promotion of the industry, according to the association. She usually attends the organization's Sophie Hiers 1993 annual meeting and makes appearances at several fes- tivals and regional fairs around the state: A new queen will be selected th1s summer. Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993/7 All GEORGIA COUNTIES HAVE AT LEAST ONE ENDANGERED SPECIES; SOME HAVE AS MANY AS 21 HE IMPORTANCE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES By Kim Coder The Endangered Species Act is one of the most important animal and plant conservation laws in the world . The Act establishes a comprehensive program to identify and actively conserve endangered species. We have many of these endangered species in Georgia. Al l Georgia counties have at least one endangered species. Some counties have as many as 21 endangered species. Most counties have 3-6 species. Endangered species are organisms that are in danger of becoming extinct. The reasons species are in danger of extinction vary greatly. Principal reasons include loss of habitat critical for survival and the death of individuals through takin g, collection, pests, natural disasters, neglect and ignorance. Other causes of declines are overexploitation , pollution and pesticides. The reasons for establishing laws and developin g regulations to protect endangered plants and animals include: 1. Rare species are a part of our life support system. We depend upon an intricate web of interaction s between animals, plants and the environment to survive. All of our domesticated species of plants and animals came from wild stock. Each year new species are harvested, cultivated or raised for human use. 2. New medicines are isolated from plants and animals. In the past 25 years, 24 percent of all 8/Ceorgia Forestry/Spring 1993 In the past 25 years, 24 percent of all prescription medicines dispensed has active ingredients extracted from higher plants. prescription medicines dispensed has active ingredients extracted from higher plants. Only 16 perce nt of the plant species of Earth has been exam ined for anticancer properties. 3. Genetic materials from wild living things are used to revitalize and protect species that have been domesticated for ce nturies, like cattle and co rn. 4. Ethics of land steward ship. On ce land ownership had stri ctly economic objectives. There were privileges associated with land ownership but no obligations. Today an increasing number of citize ns and landowners believe that it is a landowner's obligation to be a good steward of the land and its resources. Both federal and state laws have been enacted to increase the responsib il ity of landowners to protect endangered species and their habitats. 5. Endangered species act as warnings or indicators of ecological health. Loss of bio logical diversity through habitat destruction and species extinction is a visible symptom of ecological probl em s. Acceleratin g extinction rates fo r species surrounding us in th e same environment is a powerful message that ecosystems are being severely damaged. Both killin g an individual of a protected species or destru ction of its critical habitat carry large penalties. Maximum penalti es under the Endan gered Species Act include civil fines of $25,000, criminal fines of $50,000 and/or one year in jail per violation. Protected species cannot be harmed , harassed or taken in any way. The list of federally protected species classified as endangered or threatened is always changin g. Thi s list is maintained by th e U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. State natural resource agencies also maintain lists of state protected specie s. For information on the federa l endangered species program , contact USDI-Fish and Wildlife Fiel d Office, 801 Glou cester St., Ro om 334 Federal Bldg., Brunswick, GA, 31520. (Kim Coder is a forester with the University of Georgia Extension Service) tree care and replanting efforts." GREATER DIRECTION Womick's personal odyssey on behalf of trees and environmental issues started in Atlanta a number of years ago. He was a successful club I manager and chef at a resort in Cashiers, North Carolina, living life in the fast lane. Oppressed by num- erous addictions and a consumptive lifestyle, he began to seek greater direction in his life. Talking to a stranger in a book store in Five Points in 1990, he was complaining about the sad state of the environment .I_ More than 30,000 school students, teachers and other Georgians heard the crusader speak as he made his way across the state. when the stranger interrupted him with "So what are you doing about it?" "I said to myself, 'well, I am standing here talking to you about it'...but I TRAIL OF TREES PROMOTER RUNS 440 knew that wasn't enough. By the time I left that store, I decided to do something about it." GEORGIA MILES TO SPREAD MESSAGE Womick had already begun to withdraw from the addictions. He began to work out, walking and run- By Randy Lescault ning in the forests around Cashiers. He got the idea to run across North Car- olina, making stops along the way to [!J im Womick is a man with a passion--a passion for trees. Womick brought that pas- trees over lunch. It was a fantastic opportunity to educate a decision maker about the importance of trees, share his message of preserving trees, the environment, and the (continued on page 17) sion to Georgia as he pound- ed the pavement on his "Trail of Trees" run through the state in February. Womick started his run on February 1 in the port town of Savannah. Cover- ing as many as 25 miles in a day, he ran from city to city, stopping to trumpet his cause to school chi ldren, elected officials and anyone Ft. Oglethorpe .,~(~\.~1n ggo ld -~:- Dalton ~ Ca lhoun Rom tift~~:~:' 0 Denotes " Tree City USA" who would listen. Womick ended his run, cro sing the Tennessee state line near Fort Oglethorpe, on February 28. He trekked over 440 miles through the state, making personal appearances to over 30,000 school children M an.E'.t. _t._a.:v.:r.- .:-:.J:.-::-:S.- ...:.S.- t.one M o untain/Ros well . 15 Conyer i. . M cDonough ../.-:1:'3-:.. Locust Grove ............. jackson and teachers, and hundreds of deci- sion makers, including mayors, county commissioners, tree board members and media representatives. His interaction with the community leaders gave him the greatest sense of accomplishment. HIGH INTENSITY Rei d~~ijj~ Ellabelle "I was really impressed by the level of interest in tree issues by mayors and city officials in Georgia," Womick said. "On one occasion I made a presentation to local officials and the mayor of the town came up'to me afterward and wanted to talk about TRAIL OF TREES Georgia Forestry/Sp ring 1993/9 "THE MOMENTUM HAS BEEN BUI.LDING FOR YEARS AND NOW FOREST LANDOWNERS ARE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE THEIR BEST YEARS." -' GEORGIA TIMBERBRINGING UNPRECEDENTED PRICES "Although we have just ended a year in which many landowners received attractive prices for their timber, I believe we are now on the threshold of an era of even greater expansion and unprecedented profit for the private forest landowner in our state." john Mixon, Director Georgia Forestry Commission "In all my encounters with forest landowners in 1982, I could see no sign of a recession in the timber business...and the market is starting out this year as high as I have ever known it." timber in Georgia has never been greater and the prices paid have never been higher. Mixon and others across the state attribute the soaring market to a shortage of timber brought about by the cutback of logging in the national forests in the Western states due to environmental concerns, as well as a rash of natural disasters .that have created an unparalleled demand for building materials. Druid Preston Consultant Forester, Macon "It is really rosy. It is as strong as it has ever been and I don't see any sign of it weakening any time soon." Kerry Thomas Consultant Forester, Gainesville Professional foresters, timber buy ers, forest landowners and others involved in the business have never seen anything like it; the demand for 10/Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993 The Commission Director predicts continuation of an "excellent market" in the years to come, but warned that "we must continue our aggressive reforestation campaign if we are to adequately supply the many lumber manufacturers, paper mills an d other industries that depend solely on the forests for their existence." Mayo Livingston of Thomasville, a forest consultant who works with a number of clients in South Georgia, is among other professionals wh o share the director's views on the importan ce of perpetuating the state's highly productive forests. He is encouraging landowners to grow sawtimber for a future market expected to " surpass anything we have ever known ." RISING ALL YEAR Livingston said prices paid lan downers in his area of the state for sawlogs and plylogs have been risi ng since January of last year and are now at an all-time high. Preston, a veteran forester w ho remembers when Georgia's hardwoods had little or no value at the marketplace, said hardwood veneer logs are presently bringing top prices. He stressed that "larger trees in both hardwood and softwood are in great demand and are bringing top dol lar to the landowner." Preston, who also pointed out that tall, traight trees suitable for utility pole are being sought statewide and brin ging high profits for tree growers, listed unfavorable weather conditions as another factor attributed to the current timber shortage. "We have had unu ually wet weather during the past two winters that have hampered logging operations," he said, "and now we are seeing a low inventory on many mill yards." PREMIUM PRICE Thomas, who reported North Georgia mills are paying a premium price for sawlogs in an effort to alleviate the lumber shortage, said he find " timber buying very competitive at thi s time." The consultant added that he is pleased that landowners "are not just cashing in during a robust market without considering the future. " He explained that "most of those that I deal with take a long term view of forestry by replanting their har- vested tracts or making provisions for natural regeneration on their land." Georgia surpassed all other states in the nation in the number of acres planted in trees during the past ten year . " But even that enviable record could be broken if all idle acreage in tDhieres~ttaotreMwixeoren.p"lWanetehdavien ctroemes~ " a said long way m reforestation since the 1980's, but th ere remain many, many aban- doned pastures and fields in our state that could be growing pines or hardwoods." Mixon listed several incentives that make. timber growing attractive to Georg1a landowners: "First, we have the climate and soils that are conduciv~ to the rapid growth of trees, espeoally pine; the Commission Environmental issues that curtailed logging in the West have increased the demand for timber grown in Georgia and the South, but recent floods, tornadoes and hurricanes are also attributed to the strong market for lumber and other building supplies. In addition to the need for replacement of storm damaged or destroyed homes, a predicted general recovery in the construction industry is helping maintain a strong market for stumpage. maintains nurseries that supply quality seedlings to landowners for reforestation at nominal cost, th e Commission's Forest Protection Department has set a national record in keeping wildfire losses to a minimum, th e many forest-related industries across the state provide a ready market for timber, and the current high prices paid for timber are expected to continue." The director said personn el of th e Forestry Commission , private co nsultants and other age ncies and individuals involved in natural resources are workin g together to further enhance forestry in Georgia, which annually contributes $12.8 billion to the state's economy and employs more than 138,000 peopl e. "The momentum has been building for years," Mixon said , "and now forest landowners are beginnin g to experience their best years. All signs point to a banner year in 1993 and in th e years beyond ." BEFORE YOU SELL... The optimum age for harvesting and selling pine in Georgia is 30 to 40 years, but the actual sales transaction can take place in 30 minutes or less! Georgia landowners are reminded that it is often wise to get an offer from more than one buyer and to insist on a properly written contract. There are other important considerations. For professional advice, contact a consultant forester or the Georgia Forestry Commission. Replanting harvested timber tracts is the ke y to maintaining a steady supply of the raw forest products fore eorgia 's forest-related indu tries. Th e state currently leads th e nation in refores tation . 12/Ceorgia Fo restry/Spring 1993 The above message appeared in a prior issue of Georgia Forestry and is now being developed into a poster to be distributed statewide. Although stumpage prices have soared to an all-time hi gh in some areas, foresters are caution in g landowners planning to sell their timber to enter into a well executed contract that addresses the interests of both the se ller and the buyer. There is often the temptation to generally rely on a hastily drawn contract as a means of merely securing payment for timber. Landowners are advised to seek more than one offer when sel lin g timber and to consider securing the professional services of a consultant forester to handle the many details concerning appraisal, contracts, harvesting procedures, taxes, etc. Such a transaction, of course, involves the landowner, forester and the logger and/or buyer. A good contract would strive to create a harmonious relationship by detailing each party's objectives and restrictions. As the Forestry Commission plants trees in anticipation of the 1996 Olympics in Georgia, it is remembered by some University of Georgia officials that a student athlete was one of the winners in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and was presented a tree from Germany's Black Forest by Adolf Hitler. Georgia Forestry dusted off 57-year-old newspaper clippings, letters and magazine articles to reveal the fate of the tree. IN SEARCH OF THE HITLER TREE ITJ he 1996 Olympics to be held in Atlanta has prompted numerous Commi ssion promoted tree plantin g acti viti es that pan a 60 year interim since th e international event brou ght forestry intere ts to Georgia. The last such event o ccurred following the 193 6 Olympi cs held in Berlin when all gold medal winners w ere awarded a small oak saplin g to replant in their native land - a gesture that has never bee n repeated. Th e tree, an English oak (Qu ercus pedunculata) from Germany's Black Forest, was provided by none oth er than Ad olph Hitler, w ho observed th e games from his pedal box in Berlin 's Olympic Stadi um . Among th e 24 U. S. athl etes, wh o received trees for individual and team victories, was Forest " Spec" Town s, a Univers ity of Georgia junior who won the 100 meter high hurdles race before 110,000 spectators. Town s, and oth er American winn ers, put a dent in ~itl e r' s goo se steppin g sideshow mtended to su ggest throu gh Olympic triu mphs that the " master race " was ready to domi nate th e world. LIGEND LNES ON Nevertheless, Town s, a native of Fitzgerald, GA, received his gold medal a.nd apling. He return ed to th e UniverSity of Georgia in Ath ens to establi sh himself as legendary athl ete and track coach. Spec Town s died in 1991 at th e ag~ .of 77- but the Town s legend and spmt of the histori c look lives on. Apparen tly, most of th e U. S. gold medal winn ers co nsidered th e oak sapling to be an award of little significan ce. M any of th e "Hitler trees" (as th ey became labeled) we re thrown Some saplings were tossed into the English Channel because they were associated with the infamous dictator. ove rboard fro m th e ship transportin g Am eri can co mpetitors back ho me. Some trees w ere thrown aw ay simply because they we re associated w ith Hit ler, whose ranting and ravin g - as well as oth er activities - had already created image problems. After returnin g to UGA, Towns recalled, " I saw several trees fl oatin g in th e En glish Channel, If it hadn't bee n for Mrs. Stegman, mine pro bably wouldn 't have made it back. " Town s w as referrin g to Mrs. H.J.Stegman, w ife o f th e Georgia athl eti c di rector and coach. Th e Stegmans returned o n th e ship with Am eri can athl etes. Mrs. Stegman reali zed the histo ri c value of the yo ung tree and cared fo r it like a baby. In fact, th e entire Olymp ics made lastin g im pressions on Mrs. Stegman. Sh e retain ed a vivid memo ry of traini ng bin oculars across th e Olympi c arena to wh ere Hitler sat - only to see Hitler watchi ng th e stands th ey occupied thro ugh hi s bin oculars. Hitler,who was ve ry interested in forestry, had th e oak saplin gs packed in card board boxes with holes and rope han dles. Altho ugh thi s was a fun cti onal means o f transportati on, most of th e U. S. go ld medal w inn ers found it awkwa rd and in convenient. UKE APOCKTBOOK But no t Mrs. Stegman. " I just carri ed it around with me th e same as I carri ed a pocketbook," she said. "It was always my respon sibility to keep up with th e little tree, w ater it, and tend to it. Th at tree we nt with us to Switze rland, Fran ce, and Italy." Th e o bj ective w as just to get th e small oak back to th e U. S. alive and plant it on the University of Georgia campu s. But troubl e lurked on t he mainland .Wh en Mrs. Stegman made it back to Am erican shores w ith th e tree still in good health , Custom s seized th e saplin g and place d it in quarantine. Custom s offi cials, how ever, assured a distraught Mrs. Stegman th at th e tree wou ld be returned to her as soon as analysis co nfirmed th at th e saplin g harbored no threatening disease. After having th e tree co nfiscated, Mrs. Stegman said , " I believed th e man wh en he said I wo uld get the tree back, but it didn't keep me fro m fee ling like a mo th er w hose child had been Georgia Fo restry/Sp ring 1993/13 UCA coedjoggers pause on rainy winter day at English oak and bench commemorating Spec Towns' high hurdles gold medal victory in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Hitler presided over the Olympics and had saplings from the Black Forest presented to winners. snatched from her arms." After two weeks of unce rtain wait- ing, Mrs. Stegman was reunited with the young oak when the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave th e tree a clean bill of health and return ed it to Ath ens where it was planted on the UGA campus behind M emorial Hall. It see med th at providence then offered an appropriate new fri end for the aspiring youn g saplin g. Th e new friend was UGA ground skeeper O scar Winemiller - devout lover of trees and poetry. Winemill er' s love for trees was equaled only by penchant for order and untrampled grass. In those days, it was a common sight to see Win emiller, dressed in ridin g britches and boots, patrollin g the ca mpus on horse back to prevent grass trampling and tree tamperin g - spe cial attention was given to the Spec Town s tree. TREE GUARDIAN Those students who walked on grass plots or posed a threat to the Spec Town s Olympic oak (or any other campus tree) were driven away by th e stern figure on horse back. Students 14/Ceorgia Forestry/Spring 1993 who dared to park cars on forbidden grass received a memorable repri mand ; Win emiller wo uld dismo unt Hitler's destructive obsessions to conquer the world were oddly contrasted by constructive interests - such as forestry. Th e dictator valued Germany's trees and gave souvenir oak seedlings from the Black Forest to gold medal winners in the 1936 Olymp ics in Munich. and let the air out of th e offenderstires. None of Win emiller's sentry duties ever prevented him from providi ng special care for the Olympi c oak. MEMORIAL PLAQUE In 1937, the UGA Alumni Association placed a bench and plaqu e next to the tree. In his dedicati o n speech, Dr. Frank Boland , of th e Alum ni Society, said , " All hail to a spl end id young athl ete, Spec Town s, wh o not only isthe world's greatest hurdler, but is a fine man and a gentleman, and in every respect a noble exampl e and inspiration for future Georgia ath letes. It is with great pride and pleasure th at we dedicate thi s marble seat in commemoration of Town s' great feat. We also are grateful to him for brin ging th is Germ an oak from Berlin to be pl ante d in front of th e seat. We also wish to thank Mr. Win emiller for his marvelous care in preserving th e tender you ng oak." The tree grew sturdy for five years and was finally moved to what was thought believed to be a perm anent locatio n behind the stadium . Yea rs passed and th e tree co ntinued to grow with the legend of Spec Towns. Then, in 1966, construction began on a new ection of Sanford stadium and it was determined that the tree would have to be cut. When the decision was made to cut the tree, Mrs. Stegman reacted . "I went to everyone at the university to try to have it saved," Mrs. Stegman said. The university agreed to have a tree moving firm estimate the cost. The result was an expensive bid the univerity officials felt they could not justify. Mrs. Stegman, however, persisted and the unive rsity arranged to have one of it ow n maintenance crews move the now large oak. Mrs. Stegman went out every day to watch the crew, but she had reservation sabout the operation . "So much of th e earth fell off from the around the roots that I was afraid it would not make it." LEAFLESS SPRING The displaced oak lived at its new ite th ro ugh the first summer, but no leaves came out in the spring. Mrs. Stegman took small limbs from the tree and tried to root them; but it did not w ork. The tree and all hopes for a urviving progeny died. Now there were many dredged up memori es of those small trees thrown overboard in 1936, left in the English chan nel to float into oblivion. "For a long time," Coach Towns said later, "we thou ght that this tree might have been th e only one to make it back to this co untry. But we found there were several others." Alth ough the original tree died, Mrs. Stegman was determined to establish a permanent tree site to mark Spec Towns dramatic victory in the 1936 Olympics. UGA Dean William ~at~ sent to Europe for 10 saplings 1mliar to the oak that Towns received. ~he trees were planted on the univerlty campus. One of these trees now stands alone with a marble bench near the coli- seum . Th e inscription on the bench tates: 'This oak tree presented to Forest (Spec) Towns, Olympic 110 meter hurdles champion Berlin 1936. " GEORGIA FORESTRY HISTO.RY EVERY SAWMILL OWNER GIVEN 500 ACRES OF LAND Build a sawmill and receive 500 acres of free land! That was the proposition given Georgia's early settlers. The year was 1777 and legislators passed a "Headright" law to encourage settlement of the state's vast tract of vacant and uncultivated lands; the law granted free land to all citizens who desired it. In addition to the acreage alloted to heads of households, a provision was m_ade to grant an additional500 acres of land to every person building a saw~1ll: apparently to encourage rapid land clearing to make way for cult1vat1on . By 1784, however, no free land remained and nominal charges were bei~g made for tracts ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 acres of land per family. The large grants were available because Georgia's western border had not yet been established, but matter of definition was taken care of some 18 years later, following the notorious "Yazoo Fraud" of 1795 with all "western lands" being surrendered to the United States in 1802 in r~turn for a settlement of $1 ,250,000. The present-day boundary between Georgia and Alabama thus came into being, and the era of large land grants came to a close. With no firmly established primogeniture rights, it was inevitable that the land eventually would become split into small parcels, thus creating problems in forestry. Adding to the difficulty, no doubt, were the occasional land lotteries held to dispose of properties taken from the Indians under various settlements, and which resulted in a patchwork of holdings, in-between pieces, and conflicting claims. The number of sawmills established during the seven year duration of the Headright Law is not revealed in the historical accounts of the era. Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993/15 Columbia County Ranger Wayne Meadows is shown with a small portion ofhis 30yearSmokey Bear memorabilia collection. Meadows considers his 250-piece-plus collection one of the best. Smokey illustrator Harry Rosso// was impressed enough to paint a special portrait of Meadows shaking hands with Smokey - making another piece for the collection. RANGER DISPLAYS SMOKEY COLLECTION By Bill Edwards 0 fter 30 years with the Commission, Columbia County Ranger Wayne Meadows has retired and taken his collection of Smokey Bear memorabilia out of storage- the collection would fill an entire room and Meadows intends to set aside roqm for just that purpose. "I started collecting Smokey items when I started with the Commission," Meadows said. "So after 30 years, I've got what I consider a good collection. Some- body out there may have a better Smokey collection than mine - but I haven't seen it." Although he is not sure of the exact number, Meadows estimates his collection totals more than 250 pieces. Over the past three decades, he never seemed to find the time to sort out the collection and put it in any kind of orderly display. He just kept adding to it piece by piece and storing most of the collection away in closets and boxes. Now, even he is surprised to dis- cover how much has been accum- ulated - and he's still finding items tucked away in secluded spots he had forgotten about. "I'll find it all before I'm through," 16/Ceorgia Forestry/Spring 1993 Meadows said. "That's one of the first things on my retirement schedule- to find every item in the collection and set up a display room." So far, the growing collection has turned up a variety of Smokey toys, posters, movie clips, video tapes, bumper stickers, banks, patches, key chains, pen sets, belt buckles, shirts, dolls, salt and pepper shakers, hat pins, caps, catalogs, jewelry, photographs, and numerous cartoons that Meadows has clipped over the years. "I don't have any idea what all of this is worth, but it's probably worth more to me than anyone else," Meadows said. SMOKEY ARTIST IMPRESSED Harry Rossoll, whose drawings spread Smokey Bear's fire prevention campaign to millions of people, was so impressed with Meadow's collection that he offered to paint a portrait of Meadows shaking hands with Smokey. Meadows accepted and the painting now hangs in the midst of his Smokey collection as one of Meadow's most prized possessions. Now retired from the U. S. Forest Service after 34 years service, Rossoll was especially impressed with the variety of Meadow's collection. The well-known illustrator, who still maintains a private studio in Atlanta and specializes in murals, remembered many of the rare collection items that were discontinued long ago. Meadows also remembers that "some of these were hard to come by." Among the rare items is a 10-inch, battery operated jeep that has Smokey sitting behind the wheel. The jeep winds up for a series of runs and stops, with a red light and siren also operating until it winds down. "I did a lot of looking for some of these things - buying and trading in the process," Meadows said, "but some of the best ones just happened to be found by accident" One of the accidents is a battery operated Smokey train that a relative happened to see in a country store. There are also some unusual "mistakes" that were recalled after production. "These mistakes are usually valuable in certain types of collections," Meadows said, "especially when there's only a few. " Among these mistakes are a num ber of posters with questionable printing and some other hidden pieces that Meadows is now reluctant to identify. PATIENCE AND HORSE TRAD ING Meadows believes that two of the most important personality characteristics for any long term collector is patience to find what you want- and horse tradi ng for what you haven't got. He has certainly revealed patience over a 30-year period, and has always been persistent in tradi ng something only when he had duplicates or was sure he got a replacement. "I've had offers to trade unrelated Smokey items for expensive rifles and that sort of thing." Meadows said, "but I always preferred to stay with the Smokey collectables. Something that would further the collection." One of Meadows most prized collection additions is a first edition Smokey Bear stamp that he bought when they were initially issued by the Post Office. Another item he plans to add in th is category is a set of five silver commemorative coins that sell for around $200. He plans to display the coins with the stamps in his new display area. Meadows said he doesn't know whether he will build, rent, or use a room in his house for the display area - but regardless of what form the space takes, it will be a museum of sorts and be christened "The Smokey Bear Room." "I look forward to retirement," Meadows said. "It will give me time to get serious about this collection." GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY PLANNED FOR SMOKEY smokey Bear thi fall will celebrate his 50th anniversary and the u.s. Forest Service has introduced a new slogan and logo to be used during the ob ervance. The slogan, "Remember... Smokey has for 50 years," wil l be used during a year-long golden anniversary of the famous bear, tarting in October. "This ann iversary slogan reinforce<; Smokey's clas ic wildfire prevention message," said Forest Servi ce Chief F. Dale Robertson , "For the past half century, generationc; of Americans have grown up with Smokey. Our anniver ary celebration will bring back a lot of memories and drive home Smokey's me. sage of fire prevention to a new generation." The National Association of State Fore. ter held a nationwide contest last pring to select a slogan for the 50th ann iversary. The Ohio Division of Forestry submitted the winning slogan. one of 3,400 entries. The Advertising Council furnic;hC'd the des ign for the anniversary logo. Both the Advertising Council and ASF have been partners with the Foreq Service in delivering Smokey'c; message for the past 50 yearc;. From October 1993 to Au gust 1994, fore ters and fire officials acroc;c; the country w ill participate in local and statewide events celebrating Smokey's golden anniversary. The anniversary will culminate with a celebration in Washington, D. C.. on August 9. 1994. R E M E M B E R... SMOKEY HAS FOR FIFfY YEARS CONFERENCE SET IN SAN ANTONIO The annual meeting of the Forest Farmers Association and the 1993 Southern Forestry Conference will be held May 12-14 at La Mansion del Rio Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, a facility located in the heart of the old city and overlooking the historic district. A welcome reception will be held May 12, fo llowed by discussions the following day by well known experts addressing the conference theme: "Forest Land Ownership: Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities." Leading off the presentation will be William Perry Pendley, president and chief legal officer for the Mountain States Legal Foundation. He will discuss current legal chal lenges to private property rights. David Lucas of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, set a precedent by taking his property ri ghts case all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court because he was banned forfour years by the South Carolina Coastal Council from buildin g houses on two beach front lots near Charleston. He will discuss what it takes to protect your ri ght to own land . Invited to speak on how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) affects forest farmers is Rep. Jack Fields (R-TX), who co-authored a bill last year to balance the act. Encouraging forest farmers to be- come more politically active, and speaking from experience, will be W . S. Stuckey, Jr. of Georgia, presidentelect of Forest Farmers Association. Three breakout sessions and the speakers will include: Wildlife and Recreation Oppor- tunities For Landowners. Dr. James C. Kroll, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX; Estate Planning, Gordon Caswell, Baylor University, Dallas, TX; and Grassroots Activism 101 , Matt Bennett, Emmet Vau ghn Lumber Company, Knoxville, TN . For further information, including special hotel rates and air fare, contact the Forest Farmers Association, 404/325-2954. PROMOTER BLAZES TRAIL OF TREES (continued from page 9) importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Runs through South Carolina, New York, Virginia and Florida followed. The level of official support and recognition has variep as he has travelled across the country with his message, but Womick was in for a pleasant surprise when he came to Georgia. "The level of support in Georgia was fantastic. From the Governor's office to Director Mixon's (Georgia Forestry Commission) office to the Georgia Urban Forest Council and the Georgia Trees Coalition, the support was there. I was especially impressed by the Georgia Forestry Commission field personnel, the foresters and rangers and other folks out there on the ground who made the arrangements for me, got me where I needed to go, and helped me out on the presentations," Womick said. Womick's run through Georgia was sponsored by the Georgia Trees Coalition. The Coalition is a partnership of private, public and government organizations formed in 1991 to plan and coordinate the planting of 25,000 trees in Metro Atlanta, Savannah, and other Georgia communities in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Georgia Forestry Commission is one of several state agencies that are active members of the Coalition. Womick also received support from several private firms that donated time or materials for logistic support along the way. One of the major contributors was Allan Vigi l's Southlake Ford in Jonesboro, which donated the use of a rental van to follow Womick along the route with his supplies, handouts for kids and props used in his presentations. ' Womick has big plans for the future, including taking his fervor for the future of trees on a run across the United States. According to Womick, Georgia has proven to be a great training run for such a monumental journey--and he hopes to come back to the state again in 1994 to encourage folks to plant and take care of trees. "I already have February 1994 blocked off," he said. "I wouldn't want to miss it for the world." Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993/17 This large crowd of Laurens County citizens turned out on a crisp wintry day in 1950 for the dedication of the first fire to wer to be erected in the Dublin area. The late Guyton DeLoach, Forestry Commission director, is shown addressing the crowd. After his remarks and tree planting and fire control demonstrations, 650 plates of barbecue were served. Th e shiny new tower, christened the " Davidson Tower" in honor of the family that donated th e land, was 14 miles south of Dublin on the M cRae Highway. It was unceremoniously moved to another location 35 years later. (Ph oto courtesy Marshall Lord) LANDOWNER RECALLS EARLY DAYS OF COMMISSIO Marshall Lord had return ed to his home in Lauren s County after servin g in World War II and th e youn g ex-sailor kn ew exactly what he wanted to do with the rest of hi s life. He wanted to fo llow in the footsteps of his father; he wanted to be a good farm er. A banker and friend in nearby Dudley, however, prevailed on Lord to take a detour on th e road to his career goal. It was a time when an interest in the true value of Georgia's fores ts was be ginnin g to sw eep the state; several counties started fire prevention program s to counter th e wide pread abuse of the wood lands. The banker, chairman of a board respon sible forestablishin gsuch a program in Lauren sCounty, called on Lord to serve as the co unty's first forest ran ge r, a job that would entai l the erecti o n of three lookout towers. Lord was relu cta nt at first to take th e job, but finally decided to put his farming ambition o n hold and accept the ranger post as a challenge to w ork at so methin g that would benefit almost every landowner across his home co unty. Lord agreed to work for one year in establishin g the unit and under t he direction of Di stri ct Fore ster J. E. Phi llips of Macon and with th e help of Assistant Ran ger Grable Ricks and Patrolmen James Morris and John Chamblee, the towers soon began to ri se above the tree tops. Lord and his crew had no experience in erectin g towers, but after they had set anchor bolts and poured co ncrete footin gs, they came across written in stru ction s inside th e crates in (continued on page 23) The familiar fire towers that once dotted the Georgia countryside are being phased out as aircraft pilots take over surveillance responsibilities, but a former ranger who erected towers in his home county 44 years ago remembers how they helped usher in effective forest fire protection for the first time. 18/Georgia Forestry/Sp ring 1993 SEVERAL SHORT COURSES SCHEDULED AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CENTER Several short courses of interest to foresters and those in related fields have been scheduled for April, May and June at the Center for Continuing Educatio n, The University of Georgia. One will be conducted at an airport hotel. Tree Volu me and Weight Tabl es with Conversion Factors will be tau ght April 5 - 6. This popular course has been held at several locations in the Southeast. The instructors are Drs. Bruce E. Borders and Barry D. Shiver, A sociate Professors in the Daniel B. Warn ell School of Forest Resources. Th e co urse reviews the determination of tree/log volume and weight, the appropriate use of volume and weight tables, and conversions from one unit of volume or weight to another. It is designed for foresters, tech nicians, wood buyers, appraisers, and others. A emi nar, Assessing Timberland Investment Opportunities: Prospects for th e 90's an d Beyond, will be held at the Hyatt Atlanta Airport Hotel May 45. Thi s program provides an update on region al, national and world markets for forest prod ucts and the investment potential of timberland. The seminar will begin with a social on th e evening of May 4 and conti nu e all day on May 5. Breakfast, lun ch, and refreshm ents on May 5 and reference materials are included in the registration fe e of $125.00. TIMBER CRUISING WORKSHOP A timber cruisingworkshop on point ampling wi ll be held at the Center for Co_ntinuing Education May 17 - 18. Th1s course covers th e design, co nduct, and analysis of point sampl es for estimating pulpwood and sawlog volum es of forested areas. A combination of classroom lecture and di cussion, plus a field exercise, teaches the principles and practice of this simple but accurate method of c~uisin g timber. The instructor is Dr. R1chard G. Oderwald from Virginia Tech . The registration fee for thi s two-day course is $195.00. A short co urse, Using IN FORM AND YIELDplus, will be held at the center May 19- 20. INFORM and YIELDplus are personal computer (PC) software packages used to estimate timber volumes, perform appraisals, project timber stand growth, evaluate investments, and more. Th e cou rse will be tau ght by Todd Hepp, systems analyst and biometrician with the Tennessee Vall ey Authority. ESTATE PLANNING A short course, Estate Plannin g for Forest Landown ers, wil l be held May 24- 25. Thi s cou rse helps tree farmers and their advisors find transfer strategies that are more attractive to one's heirs than they are to federal and state tax collectors. Th e instructors, Dr. Harry L. Haney, Jr. and Dr. William C. Siegel, are nationally recognized experts on timber and fo restland taxes. Th e registration fee fo r this two-day co urse is $195.00 (spouses may register for an additional fee of $1 15.00). A short course, Environmental Law for Foresters, will be held at the university June 8- 9. This cou rse presents the most sign ificant environmental protection laws and regulations and discusses the procedures for compliance. J. Owen s Smith, forester and attorney with Th e University of Georgia, is the program moderator. Th e registration fee for this two-day co urse is $150.00. Th e registration fees for the co urses include lun ches, refreshment breaks and instructional material. For more information on all courses write: Forestry Programs, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Th e University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602-3603, or ca ll (706) 542-3063. Let's KeepGeorgialtachyCleanTM HANDBOOK OF Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones, by Walter Schumann. Houghton and Mifflin Company. Hardback, $35.00, paperback, $18.95. Foresters, surveyors, hikers and others who frequently trod the earth's crust often accidentally kick or stumble upon rocks of unusual form and beauty and if they are not careful such innocent encounters can lead them to become avid rockhounds. It is not only the outdoors types, however, that are catching the fever. Collecting stones has become one of the country's fastest growing hobbies and it is being enjoyed by people from all walks of life and all ages. Handbook of Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones, by Dr. Walter Schumann, author of several books on the subject, presents an essential guide for the serious collector, whether a beginner or an expert. The book discusses the basics of mineralogy and provides a list of general features used in the identification of rocks. The attractive volume provides a comprehensive description of each rock and mineral, including its history, origin and structure, composition, properties, classification, and where it is found. The book is enhanced by 600 full color photographs, a collection amassed from around the world. The individual specimens are photographed at natural size and the illustrations and text are arranged opposite each other for easy reference. The layman, as well as the true rockhound, will probably have a hard time putting this fascinating book down long enough to return to the field, but when the search does resume, he or she will have the finest and most complete collectors guide ever published. Georgia Forestry/Spring 1993/ 19 CANCER TREATMENT FROM YEW TREE INDICATES NEW ROLE FOR FORESTRY EDITOR'S NOTE: Recent FDA approval of a cancer treatment, derived from a tree species previously considered unimportant, is a solid reminder that any tree may possess unsuspected benefits waiting to be tapped - and all forestry species should be properly managed. Georgia has more than 250 native tree species. [ ! ] axol, a drug derived from the Pacific yew tree, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Dru g Admini stration for treatment of ovarian cancer. Some foresters consider it possible that the species could be cultivated in Georgia with extensive research. The FDA pointed out that taxol 20/Georgia Forestry/Spring 7993 slows cancer pro gression , but does not cure the disease; but th e approximate 21 ,000 U. S. women annually diagnosed with ovarian cance r now have an option to chemotherapy. Some research shows that th e dru g has also been effective in treating cancers of the breast, prostate and lun g. Taxol has been a source of controversy for several years since research began showing effectiveness of the substance against ovarian cancer. The drug works by disrupting the mechanism that ce lls use to divide. Cl inical research shows the drug caused a positive response in 25 to 30 percent of the women tested. Favorable response lasted five to seven months before the dru g beca me ineffective. Researchers say that if th e qu estion of why taxol becomes ineffective after a peri od of tim e co uld be answered - th e answer to curing cance r wou ld be much close r. In the past, th e Pacifi c yew has been virtually ignored. Now, however, the cance r treatm ent factor has produced heavy demand s for yew bark, from w hich th e taxol is extracted. Each yew tree produces about 15 pounds of bark; approximately 60 pounds of bark are required to make enough taxol to treat one patien t. Thi s new demand for yew tree bark provoked environmentalists, w ho claimed the trees were bein g harvested so rapid~y t.hat th e species might disapp~ar w1th1~ a few years. Pacific yew mventones show co ncentrations on national forest lands in Oregon and Washington , Idaho, Montana, and Cali forn ia. Oth er populations of th e species occur on federal lands managed by th e Bureau of Land Management. After a co mpetitive pro cess, th e National Cancer In stitute entered into an agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb Company for development of taxol for clinica l t estin g. Stud ies now how that th e drug ca n shrink mali gnant tumors by at least 50 percent in women who have no t respo nded to other treatm ents. Th e research showed especially promising re ults in treatin g ovari an and breast ca nce r. Approximately 175,000 wome n develop breast cancer each year. CLINICAL TESTING Dr. Sam Broder, director of the National Cance r Institute, clarified research findin gs by p uttin g positive implications in perspective. "You have to be careful not to unduly raise expectation s," Broder said. " It's not a cure, but it clearly wi ll make a difference in women's lives." As po itive research resu lts increased, intense inve ntories and increasi ng co nce rn s of enviro nmentali sts attracted more attentio n to the Pacific yew, and new research emerged. Th e Un iversity of Fl o rid a launched a pro gram to produce more taxol -while minimi zing threats to the Pacific yew. Dr. Koppaka Rao, a profes or of med icinal chemistry at UF' College of Ph arm acy, discovered a process fo r produ cing more taxo l from yew bark - and related compo unds that ca n be co nverted into taxol in th e laboratory. Th e U. S. Patent and Trademark O ffice has all owed Dr. Rao's patent on the synthesis of taxol from these related co mpounds. "The i alati on method s now in use produce taxol in a yield of about 0.01 percent from yew bark, " Rao said. "With our method the yields of taxol ran ged from 0.02 to 0.04 percent. Combining th e taxo l dJ.rectly isolated in greater yields With th e taxol w e ca n create from these analogues - can result in yields five to ten tim es greater th an what is currently bein g reported." Althou gh th ese analogues were discovered in France several years ago, Rao is th e first to successfully isolate th e substan ces from th e bark of th e Pacifi c yew and co nvert them into taxol in th e laboratory. Th e analogues - identified as the xylosides o f taxol and 10-deacetyl taxo l - acco unt for 0.1 percent or more of pacific yew bark. Oth er researchers have also been lookin g for method s to secure taxo l without destroying or threatenin g the natural sou rce . A Fl orida State University chem ist pate nted an altern ative techniqu e for makin g taxol from analogue 10 deactyl/ baccatin (found in so me species of yew leaves). Thi s process could possib ly be deve loped to produce taxol without endangerin g th e Pacific yew tree; this would depend on the assumption th at a source of New treatment for ovarian cancer treatment derived from bark of the Pacific yew tree has Georgia foresters and medical researchers wondering what potential cures and treatment may be waiting to be drawn from the state's extensive population of native and naturalized species. Realization that even the most noncommercial and insignificant tree species may harbor great benefits could open the door to a new research role for forestry. th e required analogue co uld be found. In Mississippi, university researchers started a new program using ornamental yew bushes as a potential new source of taxol - another potential source of taxol which could eliminate the need for harvesting the endangered Pacific Yew. "Both of these processes hold long range potential," Rao says. "But ri ght now, the bark of the Pacific yew remains the primary source of taxol, and our isolation process w ill produce five to ten times more taxol from the same amount of bark." According to Rao, very high quality taxol is produ ced by thi s method. He said taxol was analyzed through the national Cancer Institute by an independent agency that rated the samples as "excellent." Confident that the process could be repeated on a larger scale, Dr. Rao expanded the method from a one-gram scale to a 200-gram scale w ith no significant difference in results. ANOTHER APPROACH As new research and development progress, new approaches are formulated. Accord ing to a Bri stol-Meyers Squibb announcement, th e co mpany does not plan to harvest Pacific yew bark from federal lands during 1993; company sources said they have solved their taxol supply situation and consequently have changed plans for thi s year's bark harvest. In a meeting with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land M anagement, BMS also indicated they wi ll continue to participate in the cooperative agreement involving Pacific yew, including funding for analyses begun in the environmental impact statement project. BMS also indicated they wi ll honor their agreement to remove yew material cut (but left in forested areas) under last year's permits. U. S. Forest Service sources said the organization is still co mmitted to seeing that yew is made available, and that concept has not changed. BMS, however, has expressed high priority for obtaining alternative sources of taxol that wou ld enable th em not to harvest on public lands. U. S. Forest Servi ce studies are now underway to determine effects of changes on yew-related projects and timber sale programs. Georgia Fores try/Sp ring 1993/2 1 FARM BUREAU SETS 93' FORESTRY POUCY In a policy statement for 1993 by the Georgia Farm Bureau, the organization recommended or supported 25 conditions pertaining to forestry. Here are excerpts from the statement approved by the 225,000- member bureau: "We urge all forest landowners to obtain a forest management plan from the Georgia Forestry Commission or other professional foresters to determine the present condition and management needs of their timber land, enabling sound planning for maximum timber production... "We support adequate funding for the continued high level of protection offered by the Georgia Forestry Commission to protect our forest resources from fire, insects, and diseases ... "We support work by the Georgia Forestry Commission on utilization of wood energy for on-the-farm use and encourage more research and development of equipment to enable farmers to use wood energy in crop drying, poultry house heating and other farm uses. We further recommend continuation and further support for research in the area of wood energy and methyl alcohol. .. "We support stiffer enforcement of penalties for arsonists burning of forest and timber lands... "We support the Stewardship Forest Incentive (SIP) program and encourage private forest owners to participate in the program .. . "We support the use of properly treated wood in repairing or rebuilding bridges 40 feet or less in length ... "We encourage Best Management Practices (BMP's) including timber harvesting to be carried out on all forest lands including areas classified as wetlands." Maf)l Phillips, left, State Chairman of the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest, Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. ; Chief Ranger Randy Kirksey of the Grady County Forestf)l Unit; and Jamie Culbreth, Executive Director of the Cairo-Grady County Keep Clean and Beautiful Commission, show some of the poster entries from schools around the state. Winners will be awarded at the club's annual convention April 28 in Macon. LONGLEAF MEETING AELD TRIP PLANNED A two-day conference and field trip, devoted to the management of longleaf pine, is planned for April 27-28 in Statesboro. The conference for foresters, landowners, and others in the scientific community is designed to raise awareness of the importance of longleaf pine and discuss state-of-the art management techniques. Sponsoring the conference will be the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Nature Conservancy, the U. S. Forest Service and the Georgia Forestry Association. Professionals from throughout the southeast will be speaking on a variety of longleaf pine topics, including fire ecology, regeneration, and econom- ics. A social, Tuesday evening and a day-long field trip on Wednesday are also planned. The keynote address will be given by john Mixon, DirectoroftheG eorgia Forestry Commission, and other speakers will include Dale Wad e of the U. S. Forest Service; Lynn Ho oven, Forestry Commission; Cecil Frost, North Carolina Department of Agricu lture; Greg Seamon, The Nature Consevancy of Georgia; and several others. Registration information can be obtained from any of the sponsors, or by writing to The Nature Conservancy, 1401 Peachtree Street, Suite 23 6, Atlanta, GA 30309, (404) 873-6946. SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH COULD RESTORE CHESTNUT AND ELM TREES A breakthrough discovery by scientists at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology could result in restoring native chestnuts to the American landscape, according to the National Arbor Day Foundation . Chestnuts have virtually disappeared since a fungal disease was accidentally introduced from Asia in 22/Georgia Forestf)I!Spring 1993 1904. The new discovery uses a genetically engineered virus that alters the genetic makeup of the chestnutkilling fungus, reducing its virulence. Because of the reproductive abilities of the blight-fighting virus, scientists hope that once introduced, it will spread naturally, enabling the return of American chestnuts. The discovery also shows promise for use as a natural control of Dutch elm disease, which has plagued foresters and arborists for years. Permission for greenhouse and fie ld trials is being sought from the USDA, with 3 to 5 years predicted for com pletion of the tests. RA NDY KIRKSEY is now chief Ran ger of the Commission's Grady County Unit, a position he assumed followin g th e resignation of Chief Ran ger Elaine Insley. The new ran ger, a native of Sem inole County, and a graduate of Seminole County High School, came with the Commission in 1981 as a patrolman after havin g served a short tim e as temporary tower operator. He had earlier worked in his fath er's farm equipment business. The ran ger and his wife Debra have two young so ns, Chuck and Blair...TOMMY HEWELL has been promoted to Di strict L-_ __:__Kir_ks_e_y;___. Tommy Hewe ll Ran ger for the Ath ens District. Hewell's previous position was senior fore st range r for the Clarke- Oco nee Unit. A native of Darlington, S.C., he came with the Co mmis- sion in 1972 as a / forest patrol- man fo r the Clarke/Oconee Scott Bryant Unit. Hewell is an honor graduate of Oconee County High Sch ool with memberships in the FFA, Latin Club and Beta Club. His comm en dation and activities with the Commi ssion include Outstanding County Unit Award, and ICS lnstruc- tor...SCOTT BRYANT has assumed the positi on of chief ran ger of the Clarke/